Reinforced container structure



March 25, 1969 u BARRY, JR 3,434,648

REINFORCED CONTAINER 'STRUCIURE Filed April 24, 1967 NVENTOR ATTORNEYS I ADE/AN R .DuB/IIPRYJR United States Patent ()fice 3,434,648 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for shipping commodities having a bottom panel and side panels integrally connected to the bottom panel and extending at right angles thereto. Top panels are integrally connected to the side panels and extending at right angles thereto. Each of the bottom and side panels.

has glue flaps for adhering a double thickness end wall panel which end panel is the exact width of the bottom panel and exact height of the side panels, the end panel being provided with a sealing flap which folds over the top of said top panels to seal the same in position.

Background of the invention In the art of shipping commodities, it is the practice to pack them in containers and ship them to the retailer for their ultimate use and sale. It is essential that the containers that are used for shipment have high stacking strength so that the containers can be stacked one on top of the other.

There have been many containers designed for use in shipping such commodities. Most designs are in the form of regular slotted containers having means provided for reinforcing the same in various ways. However, these regular slotted containers are usually formed from a single blank and are particularly lacking in the required stacking strength for shipment to the ultimate consumer.

Summary of the invention This invention is directed to a container having reinforced end panels that materially increases the stacking strength of the container with the end panels being the exact width of the container and the exact height of the side walls and being provided with a double thickness. The top panel construction is integrally connected with the side panels of the container and is provided with a width so as to rest upon a portion of the end wall panel to evenly distribute the weight over the entire container. With this construction, a substantially reinforced container is provided which can be filled with the commodities for shipment and stacked one on top of the other without materially damaging. the bottom-most container because of the increased stacking strength of the container.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the main body blank.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an end wall construction blank.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an alternate end wall construction blank.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the container in its partially assembled condition.

Description of the invention Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the main body blank is illustrated at 1 which includes a bottom panel 6 and side walls 7 and 8. The bottom panel 6 is separated from the side panels 7 and 8 by score lines. 4 and 5. The top closure panels 9 and 10 are integrally connected to the side wall panels 7 and 8 respectivetly and are separated therefrom by score lines 11 and 12. Flaps 13 and 14 are provided on the bottom panel 6 and are separated therefrom by score lines 2 and 3. The side wall panels 7 and 8 are also provided with flaps 15 and 16 and are separated from the side wall panels 7 and 8 by score lines 2 and 3. Slots 17 are provided between the glue flaps 13, 14, 15 and 16 so that upon bending the body blank 1 in a manner as hereinafter set forth, the flaps can be secured to the end panel without overlapping each other.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the end wall panel blank is illustrated at 18. The end wall panel is provided with a reinforcing panel 20 which is separated from the panel 19 by a score line 21. At the upper end of the panel 19 a sealing flap 23 is provided which is separated from the panel 19 by a score line 22. It should be noted that the score line 22 is positioned slightly above the upper end of the reinforcing panel 20 as indicated at 24, so that upon bending the main body blank 1, as hereinafter set forth, the top panels 9 and 10 will rest upon the upper edge of the panel 20.

Referring to FIGURE 3, an alternate end wall panel blank is illustrated at 25 and is provided with an end panel 26 having reinforcing panels 27 and 28 integrally connected thereto and separated therefrom by score lines 29 and 30. A top sealing flap 32 is provided on the upper end of panel 26 and is separated therefrom by a score line 31. The score line 31 is positioned slightly above the upper edge of the panels 27 and 28 by a distance illustrated at 33. Thus, when the panels 27 and 28 are folded to form the end panel 25 adjacent to the panels 26, the top closure panels 9 and 10 can rest on top of the upper edge thereof.

When it is desired to assemble the container of the present invention, the main body blank 1 is folded along score lines 4 and 5 so that the side walls 7 and 8 are at right angles thereto. Next, the end wall panel 18 is folded along score line 21 so that the reinforcing panel 20 is adjacent the panel 19. The panel 20 may be secured to the panel 19 in any suitable manner. Next, the panel 18 so folded is placed adjacent to the score lines 2 and 3 in the bottom panel 6 and the flaps 13, 14, 15 and 16 are all bent at right angles and secured to the outer surface of the panel 19 as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 4. The container so assembled can now be filled with the commodities to be packed therein. Thereafter, panels 9 and 10 are folded along score lines 11 and 12 to close the container. The panels 9 and 10 will rest upon the panel 20. Sealing flaps 23 on the panel 19 are now folded along score line 22 and secured to the upper surface of the panels 9 and 10. The containers so assembled and filled can be stacked one on top of the other on pallets for shipment to the ultimate consumer Without danger of the bottommost container being crushed by the weight of the upper containers.

In the use of the alternate construction as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the end panel 25 is folded along score lines 29 and 30 so that the panel 27 will be positioned adjacent panel 26 and panel 28 will be positioned adjacent to panel 27. Thus, a double reinforcing panel is provided.

It should be noted that a cutaway portion as illustrated at 34 and 35 in FIGURE 1 is provided so that the panels 9 and 10 can rest on the end panel 18 without interference from the sealing panels 23. The distance or amount of cutaway 34 and 35 is the exact width of the end panels 19 or 26, whichever alternate construction is used.

It should be noted that in the event that it is undesirable to form a single panel as illustrated at 18 and 25, the panel 18 may be severed or cut along score line 21 and the panel 20 can be formed of a double thickness corrugated and laminated to the inner surface of panel 1 9 if desired. In the alternative, the panel 20 may be omitted entirely if reinforcing becomes unnecessary.

What is claimed is:

1. A container, comprising: a main body construction; said body construction being provided with a bottom panel, side wall panels and top closure panels; said side wall panels being integrally connected to the bottom panel and folded at right angles along score lines; said top closure panels being integrally connected to said side wall panels and adapted to be folded at right angles along score lines; end flaps integrally connected to said bottom panel and said side wall panels and adapted to be folded at right angles around score lines; a pair of end wall panels positioned at each end of said bottom panel and fastened to said main body by said end flaps; each of said end wall panels being provided with a reinforcing panel integrally connected to one side of said panel and folded back onto the inner face of said panel around a score line; each of said end wall panels being provided with a sealing panel; said top closure panels being folded at right angles with respect to said side wall panels and positioned adjacent the end panel; said sealing panel being folded along score lines and secured to the upper surface of said top closure panels.

2. The container as set forth in claim 1 together with a second reinforcing panel integrally connected to the other side wall of said end panels and folded back onto said first reinforcing panel around a score line so as to provide support for said top closure panels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,162,119 6/ 1939 Reaume. 2,192,686 3/ 1940 Hummel. 2,284,942 6/ 1942 Boeye. 2,822,971 2/ 1958 Elmcrndorf. 3,197,108 7/1965 Northway.

2O DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

